the reagan letters. >> hello, everyone. what made ronald reagan special? his optimism, confidence, love of country? to nancy reagan, his wife and constant come panian for more than half a century what made him special was his devotion and their boundless love for each other. romance may not be what we associate with politics or even when the real life world of hollywood the reagans once inhabited but the bond between ronald and nancy reagan was undeniable. their friends saw it and the country saw it during their eight years as america's first couple. she protected him, advised him, worried about him, and he returned that devotion in full measure, something made clear by the publication of a treasure troef of love letters he wrote to her. letters, notes, cards, telegrams, dating back almost to when they first met and continuing uninterrupted for decades. reagan's personality shines through in these letters, addressing my darling wife, glamour puss. nancy pants, my beloved first lady and signed first papa, your roommate, your husband. messages from the heart

ron dal reagan from any harm. the ambition from his advisors and negative publicity. the couple's strong bond was renowned and from the silver screen to the governor's mansion to the white house, her devotion to her husband never waivered w. >> she became the former president's primary care giver. >> each day brings another reminder of this very long good-bye. >> following his death in 2004, she became an outspoken public advocate for stem cell research, a scientific effort that promised hope for patients of alzheimer's and other illnesses. in this hour, the hollywood love story that would become a political success story. the life of nancy reagan. >> hello, i'm lester holt. welcome to a special presentation, nancy reagan, a life remembered. the president has the most powerful job on earth so a president's wife is automatically a force to be reckoned with. first ladies are often in the news, closely watched, often controversial and so it was with nancy reagan. one of the most criticized, admired and influential fi

you were talking about nancy reagan -- >> i was talking about nancy reagan's role -- >> gorbachev? >> and her husband's engaging, forming a personal relationship with mikhail gorbachev. >> nancy reagan, many have said she was the one who persuaded her husband to engage with the soviet general secretary, to take a more concilliatory tone, calm down his rhetoric. i don't actually see it that way. what i have found in my research is that nancy and ronald reagan were in lockstep in their view that before there could be serious engagement with the soviets that the u.s. military buildup, abilities with allies would have to return. when that happened, we saw them come together, spectacular summit more than any other cold war president, four in total. nancy was part of that. i think it wasn't that she was persuading her husband as much as she was confident after the military buildup, after the reengagement of allies, after -- as the missile defense program was put in place, that it was time to deal with a soviet general secretary and, in fact, mikhail gorbachev was a new generation of sovi

she was critical of ronald reagan, governor reagan's staff. she was criticized by the press for her glamorous friends and expensive lifestyle. and she had a number of issues, including veterans. those were many of the same things. >> interesting, isn't it? she developed a thick skin during those years. she didn't like the criticism. she is specially didn't like the criticism of her husband, and she talked about that. she knew it was not going to be easy, but she underestimated how much the press -- and it does everywhere going to be critical of politicians everywhere. she had to develop an even thicker skin. they looked at her choice of causes. and she and the press had a testy relationship. >> she shopped in beverly hills, and sacramento did not have stores like that. she was used to cool breezes. sacramento gets hot. and mostly, she hated the "sacramento bee." it was a very democratic newspaper. they were relentless in their criticism of reagan. she canceled the subscription. people asked reagan about this. he said, it is ok, i get it in my

wedding with nancy reagan. but he quotes the part of the novel where he's talking about the end this carrier commander is looking at the fighters going off over the korean peninsula and asking hichlmself, where do get such moneen? we get them where we always got them, in our cities, our towns, our farms. again, highlighting this quality of american service. so throughout his presidency, he's really using fiction to communicate these ideas. the west point address, he references the works of james warner bella who he calls the american kipling. he prioritizes fiction over nonfiction in strange ways. i think he uses fiction as a personal war game. a space where he can imagine the near future. it equates to how he's working through the fog of war. he constantly talks about the fog of war and you need to make up these amorphous shapes in the fog. a more standard thinker, he's probably going to try to compare them to what he knows. whereas, reagan is going to imagine what they could be. so because he's trying to imag

she was an enormously influential person in the reagan -- the entire reagan story. his political career. the fact he became president, how he staffed his presidency. as have been mentioned. his decision particularly in the second term to become much more aggressive in seeking accommodation with the russians, negotiating with the russians, she was a key player in all of that. >> the person -- you did get a chance to know her, i think a lot of americans at the time admired nancy reagan. some were critical at times. she hit the press particularly in the early years before she became involved in earlier efforts before the just say no to drugs program. tell us a little bit about what she was like as a human being. >> complete fun, i'm completely biased by her. >> fair enough. >> i thought she was just terrific. when you sat and talked with her, you were the only person in the room and that famous gaze she looked at the president with when he spoke, she would focus that on you, and she was gossipy. she liked, you know, to chat about things that were going on. very approac

the death of nancy reagan. america remembers one of the most influential first ladies of the 20th century. the fiercely protective partner of president ronald reagan. tonight a look back at her many roles and their life together. their triumphs and challenges from their years in hollywood to the governor's mansion white house. tonight we'll hear from some of those who knew nancy reagan best. >>> plus the showdown looming for those who would be president as ted cruz and bernie sanders pick up steam going into some of the most crucial contests yet. "nightly news" begins right now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening. one of the most remarkable chapters in american political history ended sadly today with the word 69 death of nancy reagan. she was of course first lady to her husband president ronald reagan but so much more. the death of her devotion to the president built her an unrivaled level of influence. nancy reagan died of

i think nancy reagan helped to orchestrate the reagan legacy. she was carrying the torch for the reagan legacy while he was alive and ailing from alzheimer's and afterwards after he died. >> did she talk to you about the criticism that she faced and there are frankly no first ladies who don't come under criticism, whether the clothes or china or the implication that she was the power behind the throne, a lot of negative things were out there about her, did she talk to you about that and was her concern for what it would mean for him and for his presidency? >> i think she just realized she had a role to play. her role was to make ronald reagan as great as possible, to do everything she could to help him make his mark on the nation and world. i think she realized she would be seen as bad cop. she saw what she was doing to help ronald reagan in a position to change this nation and this world. >> as someone who spent time with her what will you remember about her that other people might not know? >> i think at the time i saw her, her relative -- thi

reagan. wife of our 40th president. died a few days back at the age of 94. this is the final farewell, and she'll be laid to rest right near her husband on a beautiful hillside that looks downslo slog valley to the pacific ocean. we have seen johnny mathis arrive, wayne newton, and it's going to be that kind of day. media luminaries, political and entertainment. a lot of our friends and colleagues and coworkers are out there to pay tribute and say farewell to this woman known to many of us. chris matthews is among our contingent. chris, at the funeral for ben bradley, bob woodward said this feels like the end of the 20th century. what do you reckon today will feel like in that room? >> well, i guess it is about the 1980s. especially in that time in which politics was so different than today. and we had all the arguments we have today, but they were conducted differently. i always thought that tip o'neil and ronald reagan, my boss for all those years, the democratic speaker of the house and th

an opponent of ronald reagan. she wanted him to talk to her husband and give advice on handling things so she performed not only the loving parts we have talked about, you have talked about so. , but, she ifed services for him that he needed, she felt and she was almost always right. >> she had this gaze as george talked about across a room and listening to president obama's speak but she had outgaze that sent daggers to staff that were not doing the right thing the you have seen that. what was it about her, sam, that made her so effective inside the white house? and so unique as a first lady? >>> she was the president's wife. but we have had a lot first ladies and she was someone thatten understood they were inseparable. they wanted to be together. the stories that george probably knows better than i they preferred to is dinner alone in the family quarters rather than go out but they before out when they need on occasion, and they perform the function of the first couple but they witnessed to be together and ever

reagan: 11. >> did you act together? mrs. reagan: once. it was fun except there was a scene, he played a man in service and i played a navy nurse. there was a scene where he was supposed to be telling me goodbye. we had not been married too long. i took it all very seriously. i started to cry. they had to keep reshooting it. >> there is a picture want to ask you about. you've got to president reagan here, jack benny, george burns -- did you know all these folks? mrs. reagan: i did not know al jolson. i knew jack benny, george burns, and ronald reagan. i did not know what this was. >> right over here -- mrs. reagan: this was a favorite picture of mine. clover cleveland. i love that picture. >> i want to ask you about this picture with president truman. mrs. reagan: he was a big fan of truman. >> are people surprised when they find out? mrs. reagan: yes. >> what did he like about him? mrs. reagan: he thought he was strong and direct. he just liked him. >> were you interested in politics? mrs. reagan: i was not. i knew nothing about politics.

, ronald reagan died. she was as devoted to him in death as in his life. it was at his grave site that this iconic image was taken. the first lady kissing the coffin, pressing her cheek against it and lingering there. year after year, visiting that grave. on the 10th anniversary of his passing in 2014. seen in that wheelchair. >> matt is with us tonight, from california. we understand that mrs. reagan will be buried beside her husband? >> yes, this was a special place she would come to meditate and pray, always knowing she would one day join him here. >> thank you. >>> and nancy reagan said her life really began when she met ronald reagan in 1951. he was her husband's most trusted advisor. a partnership that took them from hollywood to the white house. above all, theirs was a love story -- ronnie and nancy. in the final words of his last big speech, he called on her. >> before i go, i would like to ask the person who has made my life's journey so meaningful, someone i have been so very proud of over the ye

no governor reagan and there's no president reagan. she was the driving force behind him getting into politics and campaigning and even when he lost in 1976, to try again in '80. in many ways, she shaped this country. >> what's interesting, too, her pop culture influence. for people around her age, i remember her making an appearance on "different strokes." she was in the say no to drugs campaign. whatever people may think of it. it was criticized for being simplistic, but it was a pop culture moment and an education moment. that was my recollection of her. >> i thought she was really classy. i thought she was really classy right up there with jackie and michelle obama. they were very, very classy. >> and strong. you have these strong women who keep their identity while supporting, obviously, the most powerful person in the world. >> that's right. >> not to change the subject too much, but we were in chicago yesterday. tamron, myself and dylan dreyer, for the 16th annual polar plunge for the special olympics. >> steve is shaking his he

reagan husband? >> yes, this was a special place she would come to meditate and pray, always knowing she would >> thank you. >>> and nancy reagan said her ronald reagan in 1951. he was her husband's most trusted advisor. a partnership that took them from hollywood to the white above all, theirs was a love story -- ronnie and nancy. in the final words of his last big speech, he called on her. >> before i go, i would like to ask the person who has made my life's journey so meaningful, someone i have been so very proud of over the years, to join me, nancy. >> reporter: nancy davis, a graduate of smith college and an actress in her own right, on broadway and in hollywood, march 4th, 1952. they made one film together, "hellcats of the navy," in 1956. come. end of her acting career. she took on a new role -- her husband's inspiration, their children, patti and and from president reagan's marriage to jane wyman, michael and maureen. on their 20th anniversary, he was governor, she first lady of california, a

nancy reagan had a good acting career before she met ronald reagan. she appeared on stage in the 1940s before she signed a seven-year contract with mgm studios at the time, appearing in some 11 movies from 1949 to 1957. her last one was the one that she appeared with ronald reagan. >> a lot of people minimize the impact that a first lady has on the presidency and the white house, but she certainly, maybe right there in the top three, if not number one had, a huge impact on her husband and his presidency. you see that video of her saying quietly what he should say and he repeating her words. it's really remarkable that she just loved him so much, protected him so fiercely. and you heard colin powell say earlier that he really believed she had one of the smartest minds. >> had quite an impact. we'll be right back. ♪ milk and cereal, cereal and milk ♪ ♪ sxhilg milk and cereal ♪ cereal and milk >> so the favorite food of 5-year-olds and 95-year-olds, but can so much more be done with that morning meal? here to help us celebrate national cereal day

ronald reagan, and there likely wouldn't have been a president ronald reagan without a nancy reagan. of course, it may not have happened that way if she was not made of such stern stuff. she may not have made it to being mrs. ronald reagan. my dad was playing a little hard to get when they were dating way back when. he had already purchased a ranch not too far from here in malibu, and he loved to go there and ride his horses and buck hay and generally get dirty and sweaty outdoors. not the kind of thing she's crazy about, my mother. but she was a good sport and wanted to participate in this. if he loved his ranch, well, she was going to love the ranch, too. so she would go out there and he would do his thing, and he would wonder about how she could help? now this ranch in malibu is about 700 acres or so, had a long driveway that led to the house. about half a mile with fences on both sides. so they would go out there and they would hang out and be ranchers, but she wanted to help, as i said, so she asked him, what can i do to help? did i mention that the fences lining that half mile

, ronald reagan died. she was as devoted to him in it was at his gravesite that this iconic image was taken. the first lady kissing the coffin, pressing her cheek against it and lingering there. year after year, visiting that gravesite. and on the 10th anniversary of his passing in 2014 is, seen in that wheelchair. >> funeral preparations are already under way here at the reagan presidential library, a place that was very special to nancy reagan, a place she would come to pray and meditate always knowing one day she would join her husband, the man to whom she had been so devoted those five decades. matt gutman, simi valley, california. >> some people thought she was kind of crazy because it's proven true that she got an astrology jis that she -- to counsel with. there was a series of assassinations, taem add assassination on him, there was john lennon and attempted assassination on the pope. she really felt his security was >> she wanted to do absolutely anything to make a difference. let's continue our te

reagan? >> well, my last communication was a public one because i called her when maggie thatcher died. they shared such a love and respect for each other. margaret thatcher was the first to take ronald reagan seriously and she was his partner throughout the very ta'u muchous years when he was isolated from the other foreign leaders in their perspective toward east-west relations and also econom economics. she was very important to her and was kind enough to come on our show on msnbc and share her reflections. i thanked her afterward. i would send her flowers and commemorate anniversary and birthdays because she was always so kind and i did receive a beautiful letter from her when i had my cancer experience almost five years ago. and she had been one of the first ladies, you know, not as much of a breakthrough as betty forward so memorably and courageously back in the day with breast cancer, but nancy reagan had her own experience. and then we also, of course, shared that moment when ronald r

reagan are there in 2009. there is a story behind this image. >> reporter: their relationship to all to an awkward start when president obama in his very first press conference seem to do so by using the astrologer reference. he had to apologize to her. you see them linking arms right favor federal funding for stem cell research. it was a really big deal for nancy reagan because it was something that most conservatives at the time were to. >> she wanted it to help against the fight against alzheimer's. >> reporter: we had a tweet from the campaign trail from hillary clinton saying, nancy especially for alzheimer's research, was tireless. from the bushes, they put out a statement say nancy reagan was fiercely loyal to her beloved husband and that devotion was matched only by her devotion to our country. very warm words for those who came to the white house after the reagans left. >> thank you. >>> there is still much more ahead on world news tonight. donald trump any momentum for ted cruz. the winds this weeken

nancy reagan dead today at 94. let's bring in abc news chief white house correspondent jonathan karl. good morning to you. can you tell us more about the influence she had within the republican party especially in these later years and at this moment now where the republican party is in such turmoil. >> the timing is just incredible, dan. nancy reagan as you heard cecilia refer to in her story was often controversial as first lady and fought with some of reagan's top advisers and she was the guardian of ronald reagan, above all things, jealously protecting him from anybody who she saw that would in any way cause him any trouble at all. in the years since he died she became the protector of the ronald reagan legacy and when you think of the towering figure that reagan is and has been in this party. this is really over the last several decades become the party of lincoln and the party of ronald reagan. and it was nancy reagan who carried that flame, kept that flame lit every presidential election cycle, the republica

reagan. the great 20th century rabbi, abraham joshua, was once asked what is the most important thing that a religious person can do? his answer was given in one word, remember. that is precisely what we do this day. this is what we do as religious people every time we gather. we hear again and again the stories of encountering god, ancient and cherished, stories that point to god as a mystery, yet still revealed to our fragile and mortal humanity. we remember god's saving love for the human race and family, and in that act of remembering, the god of life and giver of every good gift is present to us. and these moments that i speak to you, it is really for one purpose. to gather all the remembrances that you have just heard, those that you carry in your hearts, those of the people of our nation, and the world, and to remind you where to place them all. before the living god who gave nancy life from the first, and who now receives it back again. who is this god? this is the one who raised up i

nancience reagan had a good acting career before she met ronald reagan. she appeared on stage in the 1940s before she signed a seven-year contract with mgm studios at the time, appearing in some 11 moviez. her last one was the one that she appeared with ronald reagan. >> a lot of people minimize the impact that a first lady has on but she certainly maybe right there in the top three if not number one had a huge impact on her husband and his presidency. you see that video of her saying quietly what he should say and he repeating her words. it's remarkable that she just loved him so much, protected him so fiercely and you heard colin powell say earlier that she really -- he really believed she had one of the smartest minds. we'll be right back. as an american, it's hard to hear that we have a serious hunger issue in our country. and as a parent, it's even harder to hear that one in 5 of our kids struggles with hunger, especially when billions of pounds of good food are wasted every year. feeding america is a nationwide network of food banks that helps provi

nancy reagan always perfectly coiffed. always ronald reagan's biggest fan. she had her own mission -- her just say no a purpose. >> reporter: and she could be impulsive. in 1983, they were in seoul, south korea, she suddenly insisted of being two of the youngsters back with her on air force one so they receive life-saving open heart surgery in new york. >> how absolutely gracious she was in and just the epitome of a first lady. >> reporter: she came back a month later to exchange christmas gifts. >> i love you. just wonderful. i'm so happy. thanksgiving and christmas all rolled into one. >> reporter: some points of trivia, she was born no new york city as anne francis robins. after their eight years the white house it was not an easy retirement for the glamorous hollywood couple. the president would be diagnosed with alzheimer's and she would become his fiercest nurse. guarding his legacy, supporting him in his final heartbreaking years. they were a couple united in loyalty and love and now, in death. >>> there's never enough done about the impacts by the fi

reagan's death. ken duberstein, we've heard him discussed as a former chief of staff late in the reagan presidency. it's good to see you, old friend, and by old friend i mean not, of course, old, but i have known you for a long time. >> likewise, brian. >> what are your thoughts about nancy reagan today? >> oh, she's with her ronnie. i think she's spending nonstop time filling him in on all the gossip since he passed away ten years ago. you know, she was so devoted to him. she put her life on hold so that she single mindedly focused on him. one of your other guests said -- i guess it was bob, said something about ronald reagan didn't like firing people. he trusted everybody. she was the verifier. she is the one who could tell whether the people were on her husband's agenda or they had their own agenda. she was absolutely fundamental to everything that the president did and everything he accomplished whether it was with gorbachev or with tip o'neill. she believed in governing, as he did. she believed

reagan, and there likely would not have been a president ronald reagan, without a nancy reagan. of course, it may not have happened that way, if she was not made of such stern stuff, she may not have made it all the way to being mrs. ronald reagan. my dad played hard to get a little bit when they were dating, way back when. he had already purchased a ranch not too far from here in malibu, and he loved to go there and ride his horses and buck hey, generally get dirty and sweaty outdoors. not the kind of thing that she is really crazy about, my mother. but she was a good sport, and she wanted to participate in this. if he loved his ranch, well, she was going to love the ranch, too. they would go out there, and she would wonder how she could help. this ranch in malibu, about 700 acres, had a long driveway that led to the house, about a half mile, fences on both sides. so they would go out there and hang out, the ranchers, but she wanted to help, as i said, so she asked him, what can i do to help? did i mention that the fences lining that half mile driveway were unpainted? so he han

>>> nancy reagan worked tirelessly to protect her husband, president ronald reagan, from harm. ambition of his advisers and negative publicity. the couple's strong bond was renowned. from the silver screen to the governors mansion to the white house, her devotion to her husband never wavered. >> i was very blessed to find him. >> in the decade after ronald reagan's diagnosis of alzheimer's disease she became the former president's primary caregiver. >> each day brings another reminder of this very long good-bye. >> following his death in 2004 she became an outspoken public advocate for stem-cell research, a scientific effort that promised hope for patients of alzheimer's and other illnesses. in this hour the hollywood love story that would become a political success story. "the life of nancy reagan." ♪ >> i'm lester holt. welcome to an msnbc special presentation, "th"nancy reagan: life remembered." a president's wife is automatically a force be reckoned with. first ladies are often in the news, closely watched, often controversial. so it was with nancy reagan. one of the most

to nancy reagan. we saw their relationship. and then that iconic image at his funeral at the end of the day as the sun was setting in simi valley of her sitting there silent by herself with her husband. now she will be buried right there next to him. their relationship is something that a lot of books have been written about. she had this -- there's the coffin of ronald reagan as she's tapping it there from the funeral. it's tough to put into words all that she -- the relationship met not only on a personal level obviously but as you mentioned inside that white house. >> a good bit of the presidential role, we're a unique country in that our president head of government is also head of state and performs some of the rituals we associate with royalty or a ceremonial head of state and she was an important part of that. the reagans followed the carters and there had been a certain cultural tension to put it politely about whether or not the carter have been too informal. obviously in a republic there's a

reagan was "an amazing women." senator marco rubio tweet bd her integrity and grace while senator ted cruz praised her deep passion for this nation. governor john kasich said america and the reagan family have lost a woman of grace >>> and we'll have more on nancy reagan and the enduring love story later in this broadcast. but as we turn now to the race for president, a series of major showdowns is coming this week and next for the candidates. the republicans are all descending on florida as trump and cruz fight for number 1 and marco rubio tries to stay afloat. for the democrats sanders and clinton square off in their latest debate in flint, michigan. ahead of that state's primary this tuesday. that's where kristen welker starts our coverage tonight. cristen? >> reporter: lester, good evening. it's battleground michigan. the focus is on flint tonight. both candidates will need to get specific about how they'll deal with the water crisis here and a whole host of other topics from trade to the economy. bernie sander

reagan. mrs. reagan died from heart failure sunday morning at her home in los angeles she was 94 years old. mrs. reagan will be laid to rest beside her husband of 52 years at the ronald reagan presidential library in simi valley, california. the reagan white house. >> the first lady of the united states, nancy davis reagan. >> reporter: a role that hit her like a glove. wife and partner to the leader of the free world. and it was a long way from where she started. new york city, they called her nancy. when she was adopted by her stepfather, a prominent neurosurgeon, she took his name, and became nancy davis. >> do you always have to -- >> hollywood called and she became a supporting actressen a number of films including the next voice you hear with james whitmore. davis was introduced to the head of the screen actors guild, his name was ronald reagan. she was later say, "being his wife was the role i wanted most." >> i was afraid you wouldn't come." "hellcats of the navy" the only movie they made

nancy reagan was totally devoted to president reagan and we take comfort that they will be united again once more. jimmy carter writing her advocacy for semicell research raised public awareness. at the time running counter to republican orthodox sill. but nancy reagan knew her own mind and her heart. >> and one man gotten up close and personal look at the reagan marriage and presidency. news 4's darcy spencer talked to the personal aide who was moved to tears after losing a dear friend. good evening, darcy. >> reporter: hi, there, may began. nancy reagan is being remembered for her loyalty to her husband and her compassion to convince kids to just say no to drugs. >> outside the white house, americans react to the death of former first lady nancy reagan. many remembering the 94-year-old for her loyalty to her husband, ronald reagan. >> the kwen dpennedys, they alw talk about them, but, boy, she was classy, in my mind. >> things that we lost in the '60s and the '70s where things got a little bit more casual and not necessarily good, they brought back a lot of the old school elegance. >>

president reagan's dressed as santa with nancy on his lap. >> and nancy reagan also invited mr. t. to play santa at the white house when this picture was taken. >> those who knew her said she was mentally 100% there. >> amazing. >>> next, a fond farewell to a beloved television series. >> no one, not even the show's producers never thought a period drama on pbs would turn into ratings gold. but after six seasons, abbey aired its final episode in the u.s. last night. >> the finale is a quote, grand british story, with an american finish. in other words, a truly happy ending. >> okay. >> is it safe to say, no one died? >>> and finally, a bike ride that a couple guys can't ever forget. this really happened in south africa. >> this was kind of cool. they were out warming up for a long bike race when that ostrich decided to join their pat lon. he was chasing them for a good, long way and ostriches can run actually 40 miles an hour. he eventually gave up on a chase. >> i wondered what he would have done if he caught up to them. feel a lot different than last week. and thats good news.. i

reagan. we've also received statements from john kasich, mitch mcconnell, attorney general mike dewine and others... all expressing their sympathy and comfort that the reagans will be reunited in heaven. condolences from national and local leaders are pouring in tonight. you can go to fox19now.com for an in-depth look at her legacy, as well as a heart-warming photo gallery filled with pictures of many special former first lady and president reagan. a gorgeous spring-like weather this afternoon, but it's not over. meteorologist matt holiner is in for the chief tonight, with some good news. steve cam new tonight police are investigating a shooting in west price hill. this shooting happened late this afternoon on trenton avenue. we're told the victim was found outside of his car with multiple gunshot wounds. emergency crews rushed him to u-c medical center for surgery and he is expected to survive. police have not released the victim's name or any information about possible suspects. a norwood c

husband, ronald wilson reagan. prior to the service, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the library. tributes are pouring in, remembering nancy reagan as a woman of grace and grandeur. she was honored by a moment of silence on the debate stage. hillary clinton praising her predecessor. nancy's strength of character especially forral al tiemzheimer's research, was tireless. also, accolades for her husband. >> she loved her husband, loved her country, and at least with me, she was always very fair and decent. >> reporter: president obama and first lady obama releasing a statement saying, our former first lady redefined the role in her time here, and we remain grateful for nancy reagan's life. thankful for her guidance and prayerful that she and her again. the first lady who succeeded her, barbara bush, writing, nancy reagan was totally devoted to president reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more. and former president george w. bush saying, her infl

reagan and me. when the president was going through his ordeal after leaving the white house, our calls became more regular. i could hear her loneliness. on one of the calls i suggested next time in california we should have lunch and maybe we should invite our mutual friend. she said no, it's enough to have lunch with you. until the next day when the phone call arrived and it was nancy saying oh, tom, do you think warren might like to have lunch with us. of course. the luncheon companion star poer went up many multiples. what i'm telling you is there's nothing like walking to a los angeles dining room with mrs. reagan on your arm. the best gossip. there was no lunch for me. as a president mr. bush, preside -- i finished my remarks and merideth looked at me and said you did not mention nancy. i said she's not here. she said yes, she is. she's sitting behind that column over there. i had not seen her. so i immediately called our mutual friend spencer who answered simply by saying what were you thinki

celebrating nancy reagan. the former first lady who redefined the role and never wavered in her love for the president. ♪ our love is here to stay >> behind the scenes force for one of the most popular presidents ever. fiercely loyal, always by his side. >> everything is about him. >> a crusader for causes close to her heart. and she brought glamour to the white house. the tributes pouring in this morning, as her daughter speaks out. >>> and after paying their respects, hillary clinton and bernie sanders in a fiery face-off overnight. >> excuse me, i'm talking! >> if you're going to talk, tell the whole story, senator sanders. >> the democrats drawing a sharp divide as the gop looks to narrow the field. >> i want ted one-on-one. >> donald trump calling on marco rubio to drop out, even as rubio scores a big primary win. >>> a terrifying close call caught on camera. a 13-year-old girl breaks free from a would-be kidnapper. how she got away unharmed. the search for the man behind the wheel right now. >>> peyton

let's talk about nancy reagan. in the early '50s, offers weren't coming, he was in bad shape getting turned down for parts. he couldn't get cowboy movies. and along comes nancy. he had been dumped by his first wife and here she came along and basically bucked him up and made him a winner again. >> and i can machblg -- you can imagine that the early days of their marriage, she was there sitting in that night club in las vegas watching her adored husband who had had this great career, king's row right before world war ii, acting as an emcee in the night club. and she was the one who basically as you say got him on his feet, got ge theater and death valley day tsz and after that when wanted a political career, made a lot of the social relationships and political relationships around l.a. that made that possible. >> he wouldn't be where he got it f. it wasn't for the fact that he survived. >> 1948 was his worst year. he couldn't find work as michael scissors says. he had been on a rise before the second world war and h

reagan pulled from an nc special. mrs. reagan reads, dear first lady, as president of the united states, it's my honor and privilege to cytoyou the service above and beyond the call of duty and that you have made one man, me, the most happy man in the world for 29 years. >> they were inseparable, steadfast, especially in times of trial. attempt, her breast cancer. >> i'll say welcome home. >> alzheimer's disease. through sickness and health till death do us part. that was ronnie and nancy. some years after the president's death, police reagan told "vanity fair," i miss ronnie a lot, an awful lot. people say it gets better. no, it does not. their love explained best by the president himself who wrote to mrs. reagan, i'm not whole without you. you are life itself to me. that is a love story. harry smith, nbc news, new york. >>> and their letters back and forth to each other are really such an amazing show of commitment and love they have together. >> hopefully we'll get to look atmore of those. to me it's the first first lad

. >> nancy reagan was indispensable to every success that president reagan enjoyed. she was his closest advisor. she was his constant protector. >> president obama said nancy reagan once wrote that nothing could prepare you for loving in the white house. she was right. we were fortunate to benefit from her proud example and generous advice. >> cbs reporter kenneth craig takes a look back at nancy reagan's life beginning with the time before she met the future president. >> reporter: she arrived in hollywood as nancy davis and was already a working actress when her future husband entered the scene. she acted in 11 feature films before becoming a full-time mother to patty and ron. then first lady of california. and a few years later, first lady of the white house. two months after his inauguration, president reagan survived an assassination attempt that helped shape nancy reagan's self-appointed role in the white house. as personal protector for the president, she reviewed his schedules and consulted an astrologer for advice on security. >> i was so obsessed with his s

, and then nancy reagan, at the end of reagan's first term, was the power behind the throne, urging reagan to take a new direction. to reach out to the soviet union, to find a way to have arms control agreement. she lobbied secretary of state george schultz. she lobbied the chair of the chief white house steve of staff james baker. and she lobbied her husband, president reagan. and as a result right before reagan's re-election in september of 1984, president reagan invited the soviet foreign minister to a working lunch at the white house. and when nancy reagan received him, he bent down and whispered in her ear, he said, mrs. reagan, does your husband want peace? and she said, yes, of course. and he said, well, mrs. reagan, every night when you go to bed, whisper in his ear peace, peace, peace. she went out without a beat said i'm whispering in your ear, mr. foreign minister, peace, peace, peace. he later told that story many times but it was the first indication that the united states and president reagan personally wanted a new direction with the soviet union. >> it's an interesting stor

reagan herself. she went over it six to nine months ago with the folks at the library who said she was clear on what she wanted and not a single detail is anything out of what he put on paper or agreed to. it is a funeral she planned. she planned it with her husband until he passed away and she added some things herself. this is going to be a poignant ceremony. if you look at who's speaking, her children will eulogize her. so are folks like former "nbc nightly news" anchor tom brokaw. he's here, as well. diane sawyer is here. she will be reading from a gospel. a lot of political heavyweights are here. ing inning in shown up. it is a ceremony planned by her. some beautiful touches like the peonies that are her favorite flower. they are on the casket as well. she was clear on where she wanted to be buried. you know the love story that everyone talks about. she will be just inches away, buried just inches from her husband. >> you talk about the love story. i'm sure people will be in tears. reading so mu

nancy reagan. out and brought into the reagan library. joining me on set. secretary of labor. chief of staff. just quickly as we watch this year. nancy reagan, she stood by him. very much a partner. and all the things that they did. not someone that was very white by the establishment, shall we say. >> great to see you again. she was the back bone. >> i want to show the viewers. at least members in the secrets service. they are taking her casket they are. it will be in the center hall area of for people, friends and family. we will be hearing a short prayer there. not someone liked by the establishment. she really fought back against the establishment in some ways. >> the convention in detroit. president ford on to president reagan. she had her arm around paul. she lives very serious about fighting the establishment. back off the co-presidency. that was supposed to be jack and paul. george bush senior was to compromise. >> you really helped the conservative movement. giving birth to and enthusiasm

. >> well, at that point, i just wanted to meet ronald reagan! >>> the gloves come off in the democratic debate with bernie sanders showing he is not backing down. >> excuse me. i'm talking. >>> a major newspaper is accused of ripping off "the new york times" famed crossword puzzles. we are hearing from "the times" editor. >> they should have a crossword puzzle that is worthy of their editor. >>> good morning from the studio 57 newsroom at cbs news headquarters here in new york. good to be with you. i'm meg oliver in for aemg. >>> nancy reagan died yesterday at the age of 94 from congestive heart failure. above all else, mrs. reagan is being remembered for her devotion next to her husband. she will be buried next to her you husband at the reagan presidential library in california. teri okita is here with more. >> reporter: you're right. the condolences are pouring in, both from the famous and everyday citizens who are using the words devoted nancy reagan. >> reporter: a steady stream of mourners stopped at the reagan presidential library to pay r